Friday, May 9, 2008

Washington University in St. Louis is set to give an honorary degree to anti-gay, anti-feminist activist Ms. Phylis Schlafly at the graduation ceremony on May 16 in St. Louis, Mo.

Schlafly, founder of the Eagle Forum (a right-wing anti-Queer think tank) has been an opponent of LGBT rights and feminism. She has dedicated her life to being an anti-gay advocate pushing against equal rights legislation and Queer visibility within Washington U. her alma-matter.

Email the Washington University in St. Louis to let them know that having a bigot receive an honorary degree is inappropriate.

I must write to you and say how appalled I am at you giving this hateful woman an honorary degree from your institution. She has turned her back on her own family, wants to return women to the era where barefoot and pregnant was the norm, and has no right to such an honor from any institution in our country.

She is a hate monger, and giving her this honorary degree will only legitimize her agenda of hatred of those who do not share her ideas or theology. As someone who works at an institution of higher education, I’m doubly ashamed that any institution would consider this an appropriate honor to bestow upon a person such as her.

Please, if only for the reputation of your university, you should not accord Ms. Schafly the honor of giving a speech or the conferral of an honorary degree from your institution. She has done nothing but spread messages of hate, discord and anti-feminist rhetoric. That is nothing to honor her for.

I don't get women that are anti-feminist. Why fight against your own rights?

I agree with her about the full-time home maker being respected, but that's about it. But it shouldn't be a "WOMEN home makers", men can stay at home while the wife goes to work. And I don't agree with it in a 'force them to stay there', but it deserves respect- especially when it involves raising kids.

Matt I don't have any word on a planned protest, although I am sure there is likely to be one, if I find anything out I will certainly update.

Cypher and Ry you both make great points and I thank you for your commitment to resolving this issue.

I think it is ironic that this womyn believes women belong in the kitchen yet she has no qualms about accepting an honorary degree and also being founder of an organization. Further hypocritical is the fact that her own son is gay yet she rails about "protecting the sanctity of marriage"

I would like to add my voice to the multitudes I am sure you are hearing by now. How you can conceivably think to support, and indeed honor, this woman who spews so much vitriole is beyond me. In this day and age, when there is so much wrong with the world, to openly acknowledge her, to give those of her ilk power to continue in their fights to supress and denigrate those who are different than themselve, is just unimaginable to me.

I hold no illusions that this email campaign will actually make a choice in your decisions. Beurocracies are like that unfortunately. However, I do sincerely hope, that each and every one of you will think long and hard about the kinds of messages you are sending; messages that it is ok to be hateful, prejudiced, and exclusionary. In these times of war, unsettled financial times, and high stress, who are you to judge those of us who create loving families just because those families don't look like yours?

Do you honestly believe that a soldier, sailor, or marine does less in his job of dying for this country because of his sexuality? Do you believe that those women who work and help prop up this nations unstable economy are so horrible? These are the messages you send when you support women like Ms. Schafly.

"I think it is ironic that this womyn believes women belong in the kitchen yet she has no qualms about accepting an honorary degree and also being founder of an organization. Further hypocritical is the fact that her own son is gay yet she rails about "protecting the sanctity of marriage""

I think there was some woman back before women had the right to vote who said it would destroy values and make women unprotected or some idiocy, even though she wasn't exactly a stay at home mom herself. I don't know why they do it, but it's just weird and hopefully people call them on it. I'd love to hear how it's okay for her

And aren't a lot of anti-gay politicians being outed these days? It seems almost common to be against something you/people close to you are in politics. Either way: I feel so bad for her kid. Nobody should have to deal with a parent actively and publically fighting against who you are.

"I think it is ironic that this womyn believes women belong in the kitchen yet she has no qualms about accepting an honorary degree and also being founder of an organization. Further hypocritical is the fact that her own son is gay yet she rails about "protecting the sanctity of marriage""

I think there was some woman back before women had the right to vote who said it would destroy values and make women unprotected or some idiocy, even though she wasn't exactly a stay at home mom herself. I don't know why they do it, but it's just weird and hopefully people call them on it. I'd love to hear how it's okay for her

And aren't a lot of anti-gay politicians being outed these days? It seems almost common to be against something you/people close to you are in politics. Either way: I feel so bad for her kid. Nobody should have to deal with a parent actively and publically fighting against who you are.

RY what I don't understand is how she continues to be such a radical opponent of equal rights. For example other right-wingers like Newt Gingrich with a lesbian sister, or Dick Cheney with a Lesbian daughter who is partnered and has a child now, or even Laura Ingraham talk show host with a gay brother have been more silent and don't rail against LGBT people as much since they have gay family. What drives people like Schafly or Alan Keyes to be so mean?

Just the very mention of this womans name is enough to set me off. The fact that she is being honored in this way is intolerable. Were society to act upon her beliefs it would set human rights back by decades. Is that what Washington University is proposing? Ms. Schfly needs to turn in her vagina,. There is nothing about her that remotely represents pro-woman.

It is amazing to see such active responses. As one of the organizers for the response at Wash U I would first like to say thank you for making this a bigger issue. We have created a facebook group to efficiently disseminate information regarding the official protest response and providing ideas for what those who will not be at graduation can do. Here is the link to that specific group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=13016742698

Also, just a correction I noticed on the link you have for your email action item it says speech and honor. Schlafly is only getting an honor she will not be speaking at graduation. Lastly I'd ask that in your letters please be respectful as we are trying very hard to work with our administration to find an end.

Again thank you for reporting on this and brining the issue to a larger audience.